Leaf shutter CLA in Houston? (updated: or elsewhere)

[Drew Bedo]

Thanks for that. I may be able to get out to Riley's this Friday.

One might think that here in the Nation's forth largest market there might be more thanone shop for this sort of work.

BTW: I watched part of a YouTube video on servicing a Copel shutter and cringed at the delicacy and precision needed. Just removing the front plate involves four tiny srews, each is different and must go bacvk in the right hole . . .

[Drew Bedo]

Our son ws in town and we took a ride all the way in to Houston to try out Riley's. We found it after some driving around. Doesn't look like a store front. More of a shred space warehouse thatr looks sketchy. I didn't want to get out of the truck in that neighborhood. We talked about it sitting at the curb for a few minutes and decided to just drive away.

There has got to be someone else here in the Greater Houston area that works on leaf shutters and L:F ger..
We did eventually go to Houston Camera Exchange out on Westheimer, and I unloaded several loe end vintage SLRs.

[rdenney]

I thought Houston Camera Exchange was on Richmond Avenue, not Westheimer. It’s a shadow of its former self, but so is the market for used stuff. I grew up around the corner from it and still stop in from time to time, though not since Covid.

I’ve been teaching myself basic watchmaking, and really that should translate easily to shutters, which are less finicky than watches and larger, too. This tiny screws on a Copal shutter are positively gargantuan compared to, say, the screws that hold jewel chatons in place on a pocket watch movement. I routinely work under a 20-power microscope on that stuff.

Rick “owns 8 sizes of needlepoint tweezers” Denney

[Drew Bedo]

redenemy: Richmond it is, right you are!

And yes, they have rearranged everything in the past few years. Looks like the stock is thinner too. No one there was able to recommend a shutter guy.

Watches . . .WOW!

Copals are a top level of sophistication, quality design and excitation. My shutter is a Rapax #4, so it is larger, only goes to 1/50th and dates to the 1950s, I think. My 4x5 lenses are all in Copal shutters. My "other" shutter is a Packard Ideal (with hose and bulb.)

[Tin Can]

It seems to me the smaller shutters last longer than big ones

and we always test the shutters at least 3 times to make sure it works

I have tested many Packard, finding a used 5" ID Packard that works every time is also rare

Black Copal 0.0 and 0 are best IMHO

Find an OLD watchmaker

[Tin Can]

BTW

Packard is a Leaf shutter

[Drew Bedo]

Just exchanged e-mails with Blue Moon Camera and Machine.

They will not do any work on antique (brass) lenses.

Theyill not do any work on a Turner Reich convertible in a Betax #4 shutter either.

SKG will deal with the brass lenses, but not the leaf shutter.

Any suggestions on the leaf shutter?

Someone local to Houston would be great, but I'll mail it out.

[BrianShaw]

https://alphaxbetax.com/

[Drew Bedo]

Fine: So is there anyone who does work on leaf shutters anymore?

[gypsydog]

https://alphaxbetax.com/

Agreed, I've had several shutters serviced.